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The Chronicle (February 2009): An internal newsletter for the Office of the Chancellor

Friday, May 7, 2010

On the Senate floor yesterday, the full Senate confirmed Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees members David Paskach and Christopher Frederick.

Also on the Senate floor yesterday, members passed SF 3079 by a vote of 62-0. The bill modifies the postsecondary enrollment options program. The bill eliminates the language from statute that says a postsecondary institution may not advertise or otherwise recruit or solicit secondary students to enroll in postsecondary programs on financial grounds. The bill also allows a postsecondary institution to bill students for any textbooks and equipment that are not returned by the student.

Meeting twice yesterday were legislative leaders and the governor to discuss the deficit that still needs to be resolved. The governor, majority and minority have all characterized the budget situation as a crisis given the Minnesota Supreme Courts ruling to overturn the governor's $2.7 billion unallotments last year. Gov. Pawlenty has asked lawmakers to ratify the $2.7 billion in unallotments, however House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, said leaders are checking to see whether there is enough support among lawmakers to do so.

In a press conference yesterday, the governor's Deputy Chief of Staff Brian McClung, said the governor is looking at the deficit in three parts and then finding ways they can all agree. The three parts include the $1.8 billion K-12 school aid payment shift, $700 million in unallotment cuts and the remaining $536 million deficit. McClung said he is hopeful lawmakers will at least ratify the $1.8 billion shift, however while the shift has majority support in the House, there is not widespread support in the Senate. McClung said the governor has cleared his schedule to accommodate further negotiations.

9:30 AMHouse State Government FinanceRoom: Basement State Office Building Chair: Rep. Phyllis KahnAgenda: HF2227 (Marquart) Minnesota Innovation and Research Council established, powers and duties council imposed, and money appropriated.SF3134 (Kahn) State government programs or activities money appropriated or reduced, and provisions changed relating to expenses of governor-elect, income earned by the permanent school fund, lease-purchase agreements, general services, resource recovery, payment of aids and credits to school districts, tax return preparers, and implied consent.